Packing case or carton sealing machine.



WITNESSES H. L. JOHNSON.

PACKING CASE OR CARTON SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.2Z. 19m.

Patented Oct. 16, 191?.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR. Hark L. Lib/ms on A TORNEYS.

H. L. JOHNSUN;

PACKING CASE 0R CARTON SEALING MACHWE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.22. I916.

L%42,%5@ Patented Oct. 16,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- g I 1 T WITNESSES.- o o 0 3 NVEIN OR Harry L. JohnsonTTORNE Y5.

H. L. JOHNSON.

PACKING CASE 0R CARTON SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.22. I916.

1,2i42,9%@ Patented Oct. 16,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- INVENTOR. Harry L. L/Z/msofl A TTORNE YS.

Pat-ented Oct. 16,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

g m m fiw EM R m WL T W M 15: W

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H. L. JOHNSON.

PACKING CASE 0R CARTON SEALING MACHiNE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. I916.

QR NR WITNESSES H. L.-JOHNSON.

PACKING CASE OR'CARTO N SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.22. I916. LM%,945 Patnted Oct. 16,1917

5 SHEET$SHEET 5.

Harry L. Johnson A TTORNE YS.

PATENT @FFIfiE.

HARRY Il- JOHNSON, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 JOHNSON AUTO-MATIC SEALER 00., LTD, 013 BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

PACKING CASE OR CARTO N SEALING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 'Oct. lift, 1917.

Original application filed February 28, 1916, Serial No. 80,921. Dividedand this application filed September 22, 1916. Serial No. 121,579.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY L. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Battle Creek, county of Calhoun, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Packing Case or CartonSealing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in packing case or carton sealingmachines.

The invention of this application relates particularly to the conveyerfeatures of such machines, it being a division of my application forLetters Patent, filed February 28, 1916, self. No. 80,921.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide in a packing case or carton sealing machine animproved conveyer mechanism.

Second, to provide in a packing case or carton sealing machine animproved conveyer mechanism especially designed for the handling oflarge cartons or cases.

Third, to provide a structure of the class described which is of largecapacity and at the same time simple and compact in structure.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the-objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompan ing drawing, forming a part of this specication, in which:

Figure I is a plan view of portions of a packing case or carton sealinmachine embodying the features of my lnvention, the flap folding orgluing mechanism being omitted.

Fig. II is a central longitudinal section of the structure illustratedin Fig. I, taken on a line corresponding to line 22 thereof.

Fig. III is'a detail plan View of portions of the conveyor drivingconnections.

Fig. IV is an enlarged detail view, showing the front end of theauxiliary or supplementary conveyor and one of the flights thereof.

Fig. V is an enlarged detail view of the rear end of the auxiliaryorsupplementary conveyer and one of its flights.

Fig. VI is an enlarged detail section on a line corresponding to line 66of Fig. IV.

Fig. VII is an enlarged detail vertical section on a line correspondingto line 77 of Fig. V.

Fig. VIII is a detail view showing details of the feed controlmechanism.

Fi IX is an enlarged detail section showing etails of the deliveryportions of the conveyer mechanism.

Fig. X is a detail horizontal section on line corresponding to line10-10 of Fig. II, showing further details of the conveyor deliverymechanism.

Fig. XI is a detail plan view of the drivseveral views, and thesectional views aretaken looking in the direction of the little arrowsat the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the frame of my improved machine is preferablyformed of side members 1 connected by suitable cross pieces 2 to providea rigid support for the operating parts. The frame is preferablyprovided With legs 3.

The machine is largely arranged and supported within this frame and isdriven'from the power shaft 4 having a pulley 5 thereon. The counter orjack shaft 6 is connected with the power shaft 4 by the pinions 7 and 8respectively. The shaft 6- is provided with a clutch 9 controlled by thelever 10. The driving connections -for the several parts will bedescribed in connection with the description of such parts.

The mechanism for gluing, folding and sealing the flaps as they arecarried along by the conveyer are not illustrated as they form no partof my present invention, but they are preferably such as are illustratedand described in detail in my aforesaid ap plication.

The cartons or cases to be sealed are fed to the main conveyor belt 11by hand or by suit-able feed means, not illustrated. The main conveyorbelt 11 is carried by pulleys 1'1 and 13 on the shafts 11 and 15arranged at the front and rear ends respectively, of the machine.

The guide bars 16 are arranged at the front end of the belt 11 to assistin guiding the packages thereto. Side bars 17 are mounted upon the frameabove and at the sides of the conveyer belt 11 so that the articles arecarried along on the belt between these side bars.

The upper reach of the belt is supported by a series of rollers 18. .Itwill be understood that the packing cases to be sealed with theircontents are frequently of considerable weight and these rollers areprovided to relieve the conveyer belt and to prevent its sagging underthe load of the cartons.

To insure the carrying of the cases through the gluing and sealingmechanisms in synchronism with its operation I provide an auxiliary orpropelling conveyer consisting of the sprocket chain 19 carried by thesprocket wheels 20 and 21, mounted on the shafts 22 and 23.respectively. These shafts are arranged so that the auxiliary conveyeris supported within and in the vertical plane of the main conveyer belt11 and so that the flights 24 travel along on their upper reach at theside of the main belt. The driving connections for the main conveyershaft are through the. auxiliary conveyer, the auxiliary conveyer shaft.23 being connected to the counter or driving shaft 6 by means of thesprocket chain 25 and suitable sprockets.

The shaft 15 is connected to the shaft :23 by the sprocket chain 26 andsuitable sprockets, (see Fig. 111).

The shaft 14 is connected to the shaft 22 by means of the chain 27 andsuitable sprockets on the shafts. The details of the sprockets are notfurther illustrated or described as they will be readily understood.

The flights "24 are mounted on the conveyer chain 19 in spaced pairs toswing up and travel at the sides of the conveyer belt 11 when they areon the upper reaches of the chain. The reaches of the sprocket chain 19are supported between the sprockets 20 and 21 thereof by means of theupper and lower ways 28 and 2% respectively, the upper way 28 beinggrooved at 30 to receive the chains (see Fig. Vii). The way 28 isprovided with tracks 31 for the flights which are provided with rollers32 which travel on the tracks, thus supporting the flights in anupright. position (see U, VT and VII).

The front ends of the tracks 31 are positioned so as to engage therollers 32 as flights travel over the sprocket- '20 and swing them toupright position with aquick movement engaging the cartons with ab1ow-like "1 action which straigbtens or squares them on the conveyerbelt. The driving connections are such that the auxiliary conveyortravels slightly faster than the main belt 11 so that while flights areengaged with the cartons their speed exceeds slightly that of theconveyor belt. thereby insuring their being posi tively carried along bythe flights and timing their movement with that of the gluing mechanism.

The t *acks 31 are arranged for adjustment so that the vertical positionof the flights as they travel along in carton engaging position may bedetermined. This adjustment is effected by the set screws 33 carried bythe cross piece 31. The tracks are held in their adjusted positions bythe screws The rear end of the tracks 31 are spaced from the rearsprocket -21 so that the rollers 3:! drop off or pass from the tracksallowing the flights to drop rearwardly away from the cartons as theflights position over the rear sprockets. The delivery means (not shown)is arranged to receive the cartons at this point, as is fullyillustrated and described in my said application.

Buffers 36 are provided to receive the flights as the rollers drop fromthe tracks (see Figs. V and VII where these parts are shown in detail).As the flights are carried over the rear sprocket wheel 21 they areengaged-by the guide 37 which swings them to forwardly facing positionsothat they are carried forward on the under reach of the sprocket chainin such forwardly facing position and with their rollers traveling onthe flange-like tracks 38 of the bottom way '29. The forward ends ofthese tracks 38 are curved upwardly at 39 (see Fig. TV) so that theflights are swung out as they are carried over the front sprocket 20. Asthe rollers leave the tracks 39 they are engaged by the guides -10 onthe front ends of the tracks 31. the flights being swung abruptly toposition to engage the cartons, the engaging movement as stated, servingto straighten them should they be twisted or out of square.

l Vith the parts thus arranged the cartons are positively fed throughthe machine and in the manner which prevents their becoming clogged orwedged and so that they are properly carried through the gluing andsealing members and in synchronism with these members.

To insure delivery of the cartons in time to be engaged by the flights30 as they swing over the front sprocket 20 i provide an automatic feedmechanism consisting of the stops 41 (see Figs. I and VIII.) The stopmembers 41 are mounted on the rock shaft 4'2 carried by the bracket 43on one of the cross members of the frame. The stop members 41 are heldin their operative position by the catch 44 adapted to enact with thepin 45 on one of the stop members. This catch 44; is

carried by the rock shaft 46 having an arm 47 thereon connected by thelink 48 to the rocker arm 49. This rocker arm is actuated by the cam 50on the cam wheel 51. This cam wheel is provided with suitable drivingconnections to the conveyer. This cam in the complete machine serves tooperate other parts not illustrated therein.

The stops 41 are returned to their engaging position by means of thecoiled spring 41.-

By this arrangement of parts the cartons are delivered so that they areproperly engaged by the flights as they pass over the front sprocketwheels, as described.

I will now describe the conveyer delivery mechanism. After the cartonsleave the flap folding mechanism, details of which are illustrated in mysaid application, they pass to the delivery mechanism which also servesto press the flaps and comprises a pair of belts 55 disposed at thesides of the rear end of the conveyer belt 11. The front ends of thesebelts are supported by the vertically disposed pulleys 56, the pulleysfor the outer ends of the belts not being illustrated. The pulleys 56are'mounted on vertical shafts 57 connected by the sprocket chains 58and suitable sprockets 60 on the vertical shafts 59 which are driven bybeveled gears 61 on the shaft 23, see Fig. III.

The inner reaches of these pressing and delivery belts are supported bya series of rollers 64 carried by the bars (35. To insure the pressingof the slotted flaps edge to edge as they are delivered I provide a pairof rollers 66 mounted on the shaft 67 to engage the upper corners of thecarton, its lower corners being supported by the slide-Ways 68, seeFigs. XI and XII. These edging or truing rollers press down and bringthe edges of the carton together as they pass between the delivery belts55.

The shaft 67 of the truing rollers is carried by a pair of arms 69mounted on the shaft 70. The shaft 67 is connected to shaft 70 throughthe sprocket chain 71 and suitable sprockets on the shafts. The shaft 70is driven through suitable driving connections designated generally bythe-numeral 72, see Fig. XI. As the details of these driving connectionsare unimportant they are not further described herein. The pres sure ofthe truing rollers is regulated by means of the screw 73 carried by arm74 on the frame, see Fig. IX. The belts 55 may extend to deliver thecartons into a chute or to tables or the like as desired.

The improvements of this application are, as stated,'especially designedby me for use in a machine having carton gluing and sealing means suchas are shown in my original application, but is readily adapted for usein other relations.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a propelling chain and sprockets therefor disposed within saidbelt, flights pivotally mounted on said chain in pairs and adapted whenerected to travel at the sides of said belt, rollers mounted on saidflights for supporting them in erected position, upper and lower waysfor the upper and lower reaches of said chain provided with tracks forsaid rollers, the front ends of the upper tracks being provided withroller guides and positioned so that the flights are swung quickly toerected position as they pass over the front sprocket, the rear ends ofsaid upper tracks being spaced from the rear sprocket so that therollers pass therefrom and the flights drop rearwardly from erectedposition as they pass over the rear sprocket, buffers mounted to receivesaid flights as they drop from erected position, and guides mounted tocoact with said flights as they pass over the rear sprocket and guidesaid rollers onto the lower tracks, the front end of said lower tracksbeing curved upwardly to swing the flights into position to engage saidguides at the front ends of the upper tracks.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a propelling chain and sprockets therefor disposed within saidbelt, flights pivotally mounted on said chain in pairs and adapted whenerected to travel at the sides of said belt, rollers mounted on saidflights for supporting them in erected position, upper and lower waysfor the'upper and lower reaches of said chain provided with tracks forsaid rollers, the front ends of the upper tracks being provided withroller guides and positioned so that the flights are swung quickly toerected position as they pass over the front sprocket, the rear ends ofsaid upper tracks being spaced from the rear sprocket so that therollers pass therefrom and the flights drop rearwardly from erectedposition as they pass over the rear sprocket, and guides mounted tocoact with said flights as they pass over the rear sprocket and guidesaid rollers onto the lower tracks, the front end of said lower tracksbeing curved upwardly to swing the flights into position to engage saidguides at the front ends of the upper tracks.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a propelling chain and sprockets therefor disposed within saidbelt, flights pivotally mounted on said chain to travel when erected atthe sides of said belt. rollers mounted on said flights for supportingthem in erected position, a way for the upper reach of said chainprovided with tracks for said rollers,

the front ends of the tracks being positioned so that the flights areswung to erected position as they pass over the front sprocket, the rearends of said upper tracks being spaced from the rear sprocket so thatthe rollers pass therefrom and the flights drop rearwardly from erectedposition as they pass over the rear sprocket, and buflers mounted toreceive said flights as they drop from erected position.

4:. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a propelling chain and sprockets therefor disposed within saidbelt, flights pivotally mounted on said chain to travel when erected atthe sides of said belt, rollers mounted on said flights for supportingthem in erected position, a way for the upper reach of said chainprovided with tracks for said rollers, the front ends of the tracksbeing positioned so that the flights are swung to erected position asthey pass over the front sprocket, the rear ends of said upper tracksbeing spaced from the rear sprocket so that the rollers pass therefromand the flights drop rearwardly from erected position. a they pass overthe rear sprocket.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a propelling chain and sprockets therefor disposed within saidbelt, flights pivotally mounted on said chain to travel when erected atthe sides of said belt, rollers mounted on said flights for supportingthem in erected position, a way for the upper reach of said chainprovided with tracks for said rollers, the front ends of the tracksbeing positioned so that the flights are swung to erected position asthey pass over the front sprocket, the rear ends of said upper tracksbeing spaced from the rear sprocket so that the rollers pass therefromand the flights drop rearwardly from erected position as they pass overthe rearsprocket, said tracks being adjustable.

6. In the structure of the class described, the combination of aconveyer belt, a propelling chain and sprockets therefor disposed withinsaid belt, flights pivotally mounted on said chain to travel whenerected at the sides of said belt, and-a way for the upper reach of saidchain adapted to support said flights in erected position, the front endof the way being positioned so that the flights are swung to erectedposition as they pass over the front sprocket, the rear end of said waybeing spaced from the rear sprocket so that the flights drop rearwardlyfrom erected position as they pass over the rear sprocket.

7. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a pro pelling chain and sprockets therefor disposed within saidelt, fllghts pivotally mounted on said chain to travel when erected atthe sides of said belt, and means for erecting and collapsing saidflights.

8. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a propelling chain and sprockets therefor dis-.

posed within said belt, and flights mount- ;;d on said chain to travelat the sides of said belt.

9. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a mainconveyer, a propeller provided with pivoted flights mounted to engagewhen erected with articles on said main conveyer, and to propel thearticles while in contact therewith, means for abruptly swinging saidflights to erected position at the front end of said propeller, andmeans for collapsing said flights with a rearward movement.

10. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a mainconveyer, a propeller provided with pivoted flights mounted to contactwhen erected with articles on said main conveyer and to propel thearticles while in contact therewith, and means for swinging saidflights. to erected position, at the front end of said propeller.

11. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a propelling chain and sprockets therefor disposed within saidbelt, flights pivotally mounted on said chain in pairs and-adapted whenerected to travel at the sides of said belt, a way for the upper reachof said chain adapted to support said flights in erected position, thefront end of the way being positioned so that the flights are swungquickly to erected position as they pass over the front sprocket, therear end of said way being spaced from the rear sprocket so that theflights drop rearwardly from erected position as they pass over the rearsprocket, driving connections for said belt and chain whereby the chainis driven at a speed slightly greater than that of the belt, means forcontrolling the feeding of articles on said belt, and drivingconnections for said feed control means to said chain whereby thedelivery ofthe articles is timed so that as the flights swing to theirerected position they engage the articles with a blow-like action.

12. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a propelling chain and sprockets therefor disposed within saidbelt, flights pivotally mounted on said chain in pairs and adapted whenerected to travel at the sides of said 1 the combination of a conveyerbelt,'side bars disposed above and at the sides of said belt, a seriesof supporting rollers for the upper reach of said belt, a propellingchain and sprockets therefor disposed within said belt, flights mountedon said chain to travel when erected at the sides of said belt, drivingconnections for said belt and chain whereby the chain is driven at aspeed slightly greater than that of the belt, and means for controllingthe feeding of articles on said belt timed so that the articles'areengaged by said flights.

14. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a pi'opeller chain and sprockets therefor disposed within thebelt, flights pivotally mounted on said chain to-travel when in erectedposition at the sides of said belt, means for abruptlyswinging saidflights to erected position, means for collapsing said flights wlth arearward movement, driving means whereby said chain is driven at a speedslightly exceeding that of the-belt, means for controlling the feedingof the article on said belt timed so that as the flights swing to theirerected position they engage the articles with a blow-like action.

15. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a propeller chain and sprockets therefor disposed within the belt,flights pivotally mounted on said chain to travel when in erectedposition at the sides of said belt, means for abruptly swinging saidflights to erected position,

and means for collapsing said flights with a rearward movement.

16. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a propeller chain and sprockets therefor disposed within the belt,flights mounted on said chain to travel when in erected position at thesides of said belt, means for swinging said flights to erected position,and means for collapsing said fllghts with a rearward movement and meansfor controlling the feeding of the article on said belt timed so of thebelt, and means for controlling the feeding of articles on said belttimed so that the articles are engaged by said flights.

18. In a structure of the class described,

the combination of a conveyer belt, a propelling conveyer provided withflights adapted to engage the articles on said belt and means forcontrolling the feeding of articles on said belt timed so that thearticles are engaged by said flights, comprising a stop member and meansfor removing sai stop member from the path of said articles atdetermined intervals. l

19. In a structure of the class describ d, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a p 0- pelling conveyer provided with fli hts adapted to engagethe articles on said elt,

driving connections whereby said propelling conveyer is driven at aspeed exceeding that of the belt, and means comprising a pair ofspaced'delivery belts for removing the articles from in front of saidflights at the delivery end of said conveyer belt.

20. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a conveyerbelt, a propelling conveyer adapted to engage e articles on said elt,driving connections whereby said propelling conveyer is driven at aspeed exceeding that of the belt, and means for removing the articlesfrom in front of said flights at the delivery end of said conveyer belt.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two wit- HARRY L. JOHNSON. [1 s.]

Witnesses:

BERNARD J. Omar,

THERESA F. GIBBONS.

nesses.

so -provided with fli hts t

